Scooter fans hit the bullseye in honour of Mods and Rockers

A vintage scooter club will rev it up Italian-style to mark the 50th anniversary of an infamous motorcycling and scooter rivalry.

Up to 50 members of Crawley Bullseye Scooter Club will ride their Italian vintage bikes to Horsham on Monday (April 21) and have them on show to mark the 50th anniversary of the infamous clashes between Mods and Rockers.

jpco 16-4-14 Crawley Bullseye Scooter Club SUS-140414-112654001

Karen Turnham, 55, and her partner Phillip Walker, 55, of Pound Hill, founded the club in 2009.

Karen, “the governor” of the club, said: “We’ve made a lot of friends through it and go out to lots of different places. It’s given people a life. It’s brought their youth back to them.”

Karen said the club had raised thousands of pounds at events it had put on for a various charities.

Among the fundraising efforts was £1,600 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity thanks to a 60s-themed music event at The Tilgate Pub, Ashdown Drive. Karen said: “It’s been increasing every year. We are recognised as a very active scooter club because we do so much.”

The group meet twice per month at The Snooty Fox pub, in Three Bridges, and go out on weekend rides regularly.

Karen said: “We’re all different, some are really shy when they first meet. It brings people to life.”

Vikki Thatcher, the pub’s landlady, was also a scooterist in Bournemouth.

Karen said the club was “thriving” with its membership increasing every year.

The group has around 50 members, the youngest being aged 18 and the oldest 66.

One member owned five scooters.

Phil said he started riding after his father bought him a scooter when he was 12-years-old. He attended Ifield Comprehensive School, now Ifield Community College, and became a member of the school’s motorbike club.

Phil, who works as a mechanic in Gatwick, said: “Other people from other places join us on these [ride-outs].

“People take photos of us. It’s great, the Americans can’t get enough of it.”

Karen got into scooters after she met Phil more than 14 years ago. She said most of their scooters were classic Lambrettas and Vespas from the 1960s and that club members had appeared in television commercials, film extras and fashion photo shoots.

A number of members were involved in the opening of the Brighton Marathon.

The Crawley Bullseye Scooter Club will park up in the bandstand in Horsham from 11.30am to 3pm.